Air Bubbling Valves System In Electrolysis Cells That Decrease The Production Losses Due to Breakage or Physical Damages; And Its Operation Method

Abstract

A system for producing metals includes a reservoir for containing an electrolyte solution and a plurality of conduits disposed within the reservoir. A first gas distributor is operatively coupled with respective first ends of the conduits, and a second gas distributor is operatively coupled with respective second ends of the conduits. Each of the conduits has valves at the respective ends, prior to the first and second gas distributors. A method for producing metals includes bubbling gas into an electrolyte solution through a plurality of conduits and identifying a leak in at least one conduit by closing the respective valves and visually inspecting the bubbling of gas into the electrolyte solution from the remaining plurality of conduits.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A system for producing metals, comprising:
 a reservoir for containing an electrolyte solution;   a plurality of conduits disposed within the reservoir, each conduit having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, and having apertures operative for bubbling gas into the electrolyte solution;   a first gas distributor operatively coupled with the respective first ends of the plurality of conduits for fluid communication therewith; and   a second gas distributor operatively coupled with the respective second ends of the plurality of conduits for fluid communication therewith;   at least one of the conduits having a first valve at the first end and prior to the first gas distributor, and having a second valve at the second end and prior to the second gas distributor.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first distributor valve proximate an inlet to the first gas distributor; and   a second distributor valve proximate an inlet to the second gas distributor.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a protective cover surrounding at least a portion of at least one of the first gas distributor or the second gas distributor.   
     
     
         7 . A method for producing metals, the method comprising:
 bubbling gas into an electrolyte solution through a plurality of conduits disposed in the electrolyte solution, each conduit having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, and having a first valve proximate the first end and a second valve proximate the second end; and   identifying a leak in at least one conduit by closing the respective first and second valves of the at least one conduit and visually inspecting the bubbling of gas into the electrolyte solution from the remaining plurality of conduits.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 closing the first and second valves of the conduit; and   after closing the first and second valves, continuing bubbling gas through the remaining plurality of conduits.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 identifying a leak in at least one additional conduit by closing the first and second valves of the at least one additional conduit and visually inspecting bubbling of gas through the electrolyte solution from the remaining plurality of conduits.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 closing the first and second valves of the at least one additional conduit; and   after closing the first and second valves, continuing bubbling gas through the remaining plurality of conduits.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 stopping the processing of metals when the number of conduits that have been identified as having leaks is equal to or greater than 40 percent of the total number of conduits.